Agenda and minutes

Resolved – That Councillor David Renard be chair for this meeting of the Panel.

The Chair reminded Members of the need to declare any known interests in any matters to be considered at the meeting.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 14^th June 2017.

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 14^th June 2017 be confirmed as a correct record.

There were no public questions.

Councillor Fionuala Foley, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and School attainment, and the Head of Education, submitted a joint report seeking the Panel’s agreement to increase the Published Admission Number (PAN) that is recognised by the Local Authority as reserved for pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN) at Brimble Hill School, Swindon from 77 to 85 Pupils from 1st September 2018.

The report set out the results of the consultation process held in late 2017 and early 2018 on the proposal to increase PAN and summarised the responses received by the local community.

In reaching its decision, the Cabinet Panel confirmed that it

·        had carefully considered the joint report and the representations made at the meeting by Council Officers along with the representations made at public question time.

·        was satisfied that

•      it had the necessary information in order to make the decision referred to above,

•      the Statutory Notice complied with the statutory requirements,

•      the statutory consultation was carried out properly prior to the publication of the Notice, and

•      the Notice did not relate to any other published proposal.

·      had carefully considered the factors to be considered by the decision makers, as set out in the statutory guidance from the Department for Education in April 2016, Guidance for decision-makers: Statutory guidance for decision-makers deciding prescribed alteration and establishment and discontinuance proposals.

The Cabinet Panel’s decision was to approve the proposals as set out in the statutory notice to:

1.         Increase the PAN that is recognised by the Local Authority as reserved for pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN) at Brimble Hill School, Swindon from 77 to 85 Pupils from 1st September 2018.

The reasons for the decision were as follows:

Education standards and diversity of provision

The Cabinet Panel believed that the Local Authority was responding to the Government’s wish to see a dynamic system in which the best schools are able to expand and spread their ethos and success. In February 2018, OFSTED reported that Brimble Hill Primary Special School continued to be rated as good.

The proposal to increase the PAN at Brimble Hill Primary Special School had been developed to respond to the service commissioners identifying a requirement for places for at least eight additional pupils.

A school-led system with every school an academy

The Cabinet Panel noted that Brimble Hill Primary Special School was a Local Authority maintained school. Therefore, the proposal was not consistent with the Government’s policy - a school-led system with every school an academy. However, the proposal would increase the school-led provision in Swindon by increasing the number of places Brimble Hill Primary Special School could offer.

Demand

Cabinet Panel noted that Brimble Hill Primary Special School was very popular with parents. It was operating not only at full capacity but also with a waiting list. Brimble Hill Primary Special School recognised the important role that parents play in the life of the school, and their preference for their children to attend this school.

The Panel noted that in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.